Brittany Bishop, Our Keeper Abroad

Brittany Bishop has been an animal keeper in the bird department of Turtle Back Zoo for over two years and has worked in animal care for over seven years. Recently, the Zoological Society of New Jersey sponsored an experience for her with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Costal Birds (SANCCOB) at its Cape Town location. SANCCOB is a non-profit organization focused on reversing the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation, and eventual release of ill, abandoned, oiled, and injured seabirds. SANCCOB focuses on helping endangered species such as the African Penguin[1], via its efforts to hand-rear abandoned and weak chicks, as well as its rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Hand-reared penguins have a survival rate similar to those which were naturally reared, making hand-rearing orphaned chicks an essential and effective conservation intervention[2]. Over the course of the two weeks she spent with SANCCOB, Brittany made different types of formula for penguin chicks, fed both chicks and adult birds, and observed surgeries needed by injured penguins – but she has told us that the most rewarding part of the entire experience for her was watching rehabilitated penguins join a wild colony at Boulders Beach. SANCCOB has reported that during a year without oil spills, they treat up to 2,500 seabirds, and 1,500 of those birds are African penguins[3].

The Zoological Society of New Jersey is excited to highlight Brittany’s experience aiding South African seabirds, especially the endangered African penguin, and we are proud to support all such wildlife conservation efforts.

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[1] Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Costal Birds. (2019). Saving Seabirds. SANCCOB: A Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://sanccob.co.za/projects/

[2] Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Costal Birds. (2019). Chick Bolstering Project. SANCCOB: A Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://sanccob.co.za/projects/chick-bolstering-project/

[3] Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Costal Birds. (2019). Rehabilitation. SANCCOB: A Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from “https://sanccob.co.za/about-us